Design Competition to Open for World War I Memorial in D.C.

Published at 8:47 AM EDT on May 19, 2015 | Updated at 5:35 AM EDT on May 19, 2015

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The skyline of Washington, DC, including the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, US Capitol and National Mall, is seen from the air at sunset in this photograph taken on June 15, 2014.

A federal commission working to build a World War I Memorial in Washington plans to open a design competition for the project this week.

The World War I Centennial Commission is planning an international, two-stage competition open to any professional, university student or interested participant. The group will open its competition Thursday, with submissions due July 21. Finalists will be named in August, and a winning design will be named in January.

In December, Congress passed a law rededicating Washington's Pershing Park along Pennsylvania Avenue as a World War I Memorial. The law calls for enhancing the site to honor U.S. service members. That could include sculptural elements and a landscape design.

The National Park Service is opening an environmental assessment to begin planning for the memorial.